The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-26
| THE ENDS OF JUSTICE
SERVED UPON A FIENDISH COL
ORED BAPTIST PREACHER.
Amos johnson Hanged at Marion,
Ark, for Rspiug a Little
White Girl.
SAVED IN ONE INSTANCE AND
BLIGHrED IN ANOTHER.
The p is0ner Almost Overcome by
Fear and EmOtiOn-A
Bad Job.

Marion, Ark, has had its semi-occs-
sional ci Gus, aud will again relapse
into rural quietude for few months.
1t was a drawing affair while it lasted,
and Memphis contributed no little to
the profits. Even the patent medicine
man who nightly harangues idle
crowds in this city, accompanied about
200 other people of this city to the
banner tewn OF the South for hang
inge, yesterday. The Terry steamer
Alice Landed the Bluff City contingent
on Arkansas soil in fine shape, and
the passengers dispored themselves
about tho streets OF the village until
the hour set for the execution.
THE CENTRAL FIGURE.
The victim Of lust doomed o satisfy
morbid culiosities of about 1000 peo-
pie, about 800 of whom were fom
Marion and vicinity, was Amos John
con, colored. He presented the ap
pearance OF an innocent, harmless old
man, near farty years Ct age, whom
no one with average courage would
fear to meet in the dark. Goal black
in color, short in stature, and weigh
ing not over $50 pounds, he was a
typical negro. Among his brethren
he had officia!ed for years past as
minister of the Baptist persuasion,
and apparently stood well in the COM
munity before committing his besstly
crime.
THE INNt CENT VICTIM SECURED
Some five years ego, according to
the arged mans story, he was ten
ant on the Apperson farm, few miles
from the river on the Arkansas side.
One day there floated to the shore
near his cabin a flatboat, occupied by
q man, woman and little girl 8 years
of sge. To parties who VISITED the
boat, the male occupant stated that
they desired to get rid Of the child,
and desired some Of them to adopt it
The reasons for this were thst they
had been mother and father to it three
years, and were unable longer to pro-
vide. johnson heard OF the case, and
went down to where the boat was
moored to take the charge. They re-
lated the story to him, and said fur
ther that the child's mother was dead.
Her parents formerly
LIVED AT CAPE GIRARDEAU,
where the father was still prominent
figure arouEd saloons and the low
dives. He had sunk 30 low that he
was probably unaware OF the exist
ence Of the child. When they started
on their Southern voyage a sister oil
the burdensome child accompanied
them, but she had been drowned sew.
eral days previously. The child's real
name was given to Johnson as Mar
garet Hargrave, but she was more Sc
customed to that OF Arnold, and il
was retained. The situation appealed
to the colored mans sympathies, and
he sigrified his willingness to relieve
them of Margaret. This was accord.
ingly done, and the child removed to
his cabin.
ONE OF THE FAMILY.
This style and order CT acquisition
to the family circle did not please
Johnson's wife and mother-in-law,
and they endesvored to make it un.
pleasant for both the girl and her sell
constituted guardian. He bravely
championed the innocent's cause,
however, and forbade the two colored
women to infict any imposition. I'm
der this state OF affairs matters pre-.
crossed smoothly in the Johnson
household uLtil the 10 h day oil jan
uary last, when, as he clsims, whisky
tecured mastery over him, and he
made
THE CRIMINAL ASSAULT.
Just how it all came about the con-
demued man refused to say, further
than that the girl made no strenuous
resistance. One feature, however, he
most positively adhered to, and that
was, the crime was never repeated
When asked if the victim was injured
Johnson ia'teringly answered she wal
not. When Johnson's wife, who waE
absent from home at the time, re
turned, she discovered the girl on 6
bed and, through close questioning
elected the story OF the assault. Hel
indignation and jealousy knew nc
bounds, and the officers of thu law
were speedily informed OF the oc
currence.
ARREST, INDICTMENT AND TRIAL
Johnson was arrested by Sheriff W,r
ner and lodged in jail at Marion. Tit
grand Jury met a few days afterward
found a true bill OF indictment, anC
the day for trial set. Little difficult!
WIS encountered in impaneliDg
Jury, composed of colored men. Ii
the trial The State was represented BY
District Attorney I. B. Edrington anC
Major r. F. Crittenden, while Messrs
Lyies and Berry defended the &C
Cused. Tho evidence WAS plain anC
convincing and the case soon termi
mated with a verdict OF guilty. Thu
sentence of death was pronounced b.
Judge J. E. Riddick on the 4th o
February, and Friday, March 25tb
assigned as the day OF execution.
CONCLUDED TO CONFESS.
From the time OF Johnson's ares
until early yesterday morning b.
stubbornly refused to say auythini
eliminating himself. He attributed
his predicsmeDt to "lies sworn to b,
his wife, who loved another negro
To Sheriff Werner and others yester
day ne relieved himself of the truth
and confessed the crime, giving paI
ticulars as related above. He ais
protested forgiveness for his vile, Of
whose evidenceprincipally he was cor
victed. The girl whom he ravished
he said, was Is years Of age, and 9
present in charitable institution i
this city.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE EXECUTION.
Sheriff Werner and his deputie
began early to make preparations TO
the coming event. AT or sIrangin
the gallows-which, by the way, ha
performed many a valiant service
attention was turned to the prisoner
Deputy W. ]. Hardin superintende
this branch of the dissgreeable duty
and a~faDdad auaru nonrfaav m YanTS